Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:16 pm
And the Top 10 finishes with guess what, a middle reliever.
How about one of those deals kids used to call Pete Franklin with: I think we should trade Zach Putnam, Scott Barnes, Austin Adams and Zach McAllister (and we can throw in Bryce Stowell and Rob Bryson while we're at it) for [name your favorite RH power hitter]
10. Zach Putnam, rhp Born: Jul 03, 1987 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 225
Drafted: Michigan, 2008 (5th round). Signed by: Derrick Ross.
Background: Like Austin Adams, Putnam was a two-way player in college and focused on pitching once he turned pro. Signed for an above-slot $600,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2008, he pitched in Triple-A for much of the last two seasons before making his big league debut last September.
Scouting Report: Putnam has some effort in his delivery but his athleticism helps him repeat his mechanics and throw strikes with a 90-93 mph fastball that touches 95 mph. He pitches off his fastball and can put hitters away with an above-average splitter, a combination that helps him miss bats and get groundballs. Putnam throws a below-average slider, which puts him in the difficult situation of being a righthanded reliever who can be vulnerable against righthanded hitters. His splitter helps him attack lefthanded batters, whom he held to a .547 OPS at Columbus last year, but he's still searching for a weapon against righthanded hitters, who tagged him for a .712 OPS.
The Future: Putnam projects as a middle reliever. He should get a chance to fill that role in Cleveland in 2012, possibly as soon as Opening Day. Otherwise he will return to Columbus.
How about one of those deals kids used to call Pete Franklin with: I think we should trade Zach Putnam, Scott Barnes, Austin Adams and Zach McAllister (and we can throw in Bryce Stowell and Rob Bryson while we're at it) for [name your favorite RH power hitter]
10. Zach Putnam, rhp Born: Jul 03, 1987 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 225
Drafted: Michigan, 2008 (5th round). Signed by: Derrick Ross.
Background: Like Austin Adams, Putnam was a two-way player in college and focused on pitching once he turned pro. Signed for an above-slot $600,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2008, he pitched in Triple-A for much of the last two seasons before making his big league debut last September.
Scouting Report: Putnam has some effort in his delivery but his athleticism helps him repeat his mechanics and throw strikes with a 90-93 mph fastball that touches 95 mph. He pitches off his fastball and can put hitters away with an above-average splitter, a combination that helps him miss bats and get groundballs. Putnam throws a below-average slider, which puts him in the difficult situation of being a righthanded reliever who can be vulnerable against righthanded hitters. His splitter helps him attack lefthanded batters, whom he held to a .547 OPS at Columbus last year, but he's still searching for a weapon against righthanded hitters, who tagged him for a .712 OPS.
The Future: Putnam projects as a middle reliever. He should get a chance to fill that role in Cleveland in 2012, possibly as soon as Opening Day. Otherwise he will return to Columbus.